Raspberries, Yam Chips and Zucchini Noodles

I know it sounds like these items have nothing in common… except for the fact that they are all raw and all made my stomach very happy. No, not at the same time : ), but I did much on all delightfully. With raspberry season almost over, at least in our neck of the woods, I ate up as much of these delightful droplets as possible. My Mom picked and froze tons of them for the months to come.

Raspberries are full of antioxidant and are anti-inflammatory by nature. They are loaded with manganese and vitamin C. They even have vitamins B2 and B3 AND Omega 3 fatty acids.
Yams are one of the best kept secrets. Full of potassium, manganese, vitamin C and B6. B6 helps our bodies to break down homocysteine, which can directly damage blood vessel walls. Potassium helps to control blood pressure. When cooked, yams are not my favorite food to eat, however, when dehydrated into raw chips—it’s a different story. I slice yams with a potato peeler, to make long strips, toss with garlic, lemon juice and a wee-bit of oil (your choice), lightly salting with Himalayan salt, and dehydrate at 115 F until crisp and crunchy.

I had previously mentioned Zucchini Noodles (a time or two). Zucchini is now in season, and, as I found out, comes in many different sizes. If you find them at your local super market, you most likely will see the smaller kind. I recently made a dishful of this scrumptious pasta with ONE zucchini that came from our local CSA.

The list of nutrients and vitamins found in zucchs is too long to list, but I will mention a few: manganese, vitamin C, magnesium, Vitamin A, potassium, copper, folate, vitamin K, B1, B6, Omega 3 fatty acids, and the list can go on.

Zucchs have anti-cancer effects, provides cardiovascular protection and extracts from squash have also been found to help reduce symptoms of a condition occurring in men called benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. In this condition, the prostate gland becomes problematically enlarged, which can cause difficulty with urinary and sexual function.

While summer is still ablaze and there are plenty of seasonal foods available at your local farmer’s market, get out there and load up on the life-saving, disease-preventing, vitamin and mineral loaded produce. Consume as much raw produce as you can to get the greatest benefit.

Until next time, live an UNPROCESSED LIFE and PROSPER!

Monday Raw Creations

Over the last week I indulged in a few raw treats.

Strawberry Buckwheat Cookies
(I blogged about them in this post).

Mango Sorbet with Banana Crackers
Strawberry Salad

This is my new invention. I teach how to make it in my Cooking Classes (the only raw/vegan cooking class in Cowlitz County and surrounding areas!), so make sure to sign up. There is a class coming up this Friday at 6 pm.

Yam Chips

· Peel and slice yams on the thinnest mandolin setting.
· Soak in water for 30-60 minutes to reduce starch.
· Sprinkle with juice of ½-1 lemon
· Add your favorite seasoning and minced garlic
· Salt to taste (lightly), if at all
· Dehydrate at 115 F until crisp (about 18-24 hrs)

As you can see, eating healthy is not boring, and by no means will you be lacking any vitamins. On the contrary, you will get more than what you get on the SAD (Standard American Diet) and your body and mind will thank you for it.

Enjoy your Monday, and remember to live an UNPROCESSED life!

Eggplant Bites

I am a huge fan of eggplant. This love affair began early on in my life. I remember we made this dish for special occasions and when we had guests when I was little. The only difference was is that we used to dip eggplant into egg mixture and fry it until it was too soft, mostly due to using too much oil. I had never lost the taste for this dish and decided that it was time to give it a vegan make-over. I was salivating while making it, and my taste buds were doing a happy dance... It was DELICIOUS!!! And the entire platter was gone before the night was over. You can see eggplant nutrition properties here.

EGGPLANT BITES

Ingredients
● 1 medium purple eggplant
● 4-5 tomatoes, depending on size
● 2 tablespoons vegan mayo
● 3 large cloves of garlic, crashed

Breading
● ½ zucchini, shredded
● ½ cup soy milk
● Sea salt to taste
● Seasoning to taste (optional)
● ½ cup unbleached organic white flour

Preparation
● Cut eggplant into 5 mm (3/16”) rings
● Place in a bowl and sprinkle each ring with salt to reduce bitterness. I placed my eggplant rings into a salad spinner, so I can later wash then and spin out extra water.
● Cover and let the rings sit while you are preparing the rest of the ingredients.
● Cut tomatoes into thin rounds and set aside.
● To make breading: combine all ingredients and blend in a good processor until zucchini is well integrated in the dough.
● Preheat a skillet and set to medium-high.
● Rinse eggplant rings and either pat dry with a paper towel and use salad spinner to get rid of excess moisture.
● Dip each ring into dough.
● I use non-stick skillet, so less than a teaspoon of olive oil is needed for each round of eggplants. Use your judgment on how much you need, but DO NOT use too much.
● Place several eggplant rings on a skillet and fry until golden.
● I like my eggplant a bit on a raw side, so this process will leave the eggplant a bit raw inside. For those faint of heart (or taste-buds : ) ) fry eggplant on their own before breading for about a minute on each side, and then dip into breading and fry again.
● When all eggplant rings have been fried lay out on a large platter.
● Spread a little bit of vegan mayo on each ring and add a little bit of crashed garlic.
● Cover with a tomato and sprinkle with sea salt.
● Eggplant bites can be served immediately or refrigerated for later enjoyment.

ENJOY!!!

Rainbow Smoothie

Today's post has no image with it, but it lacks no flavor nonetheless.

The ingredients will make slightly more than 1 quart (about 35 oz.) of smoothie that you can drink throughout the day or refrigerate for the next day. It is packed with delicious nutrients and vitamins :)

RAINBOW SMOOTHIE

• 2 cups water
• 2 big handfuls of chopped dandelion greens
• 2 big handfuls of chopped rainbow chard
• 4 dates for sweetness (optional)
• 2 oranges
• 1 banana

ENJOY!!!